Front Range
AvalancheMatt Carples · Dec 9, 2016 · Front Range
Weather
Moderate snow, broken cloud cover, weak to moderate wind and snow transport. Winds slowed down throughout the afternoon, although there was much evidence of wind throughout the night and early morning.
Snowpack
Dug a pit in a sheltered, NNE area, above the 80's, just below treeline. Snow depth was 77cm. Bottom 15 cm was 1-2mm facets, but no crust. 15-77 cm was a right-side up snowpack, ranging from F at the surface to 1F 20 cm from the base. In areas affected by wind, the snowpack was quite different. Snow was much heavier and consolidated in lee and cross loaded zones. Storm slab was still soft, but definitely gaining strength. Small wumphs and collapses were heard, but nothing major throughout most of day.
Avalanche
1) Current Creek - 90's. North aspect around treeline. Skier triggered (ski cut), breaking to the ground in a thin area of shale and rock. Crown depth between 12 and 18 inches. R1/D1 2) Current Creek, teacup bowl. SE aspect, around treeline. Slide was triggered sympathetically from about 150 feet away, on the low angle slopes to the east of Teacup Bowl. Crown heights were between 2 and 3 feet, best we could tell from a distance, and the slide broke down to the ground. R2/D2